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Post by Bornthrilla on Nov 4, 2007 16:29:55 GMT -5
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Post by Bornthrilla on Nov 4, 2007 16:33:42 GMT -5
Originally published November 4, 2007 Halftime chaos a first for Carter By St. Clair Murraine and Heath A. Smith DEMOCRAT STAFF WRITERS
Rubin Carter has experienced many things during his three seasons as Florida A&M head football coach that he has never experienced during his high-school, college and professional playing days, nor during his previous coaching stints.
You can add Saturday's halftime fiasco to the list of new experiences.
A standoff between the Marching 100 and North Carolina A&T's football team almost resulted in FAMU's football team having to forfeit the game.
“This takes the cake and the ice cream, too,” Carter said after the game. “It was unusual; that's all I can say. Maybe unique is a better word.”
The problem started when the Marching 100 and its 400-plus members came off the field to do the traditional ending to their halftime program where the drum majors and tuba sections do consecutive splits while the drummers play.
The band did the routine on the North Carolina A&T bench because the band's seats are located behind the Aggie bench.
The Aggie football team came to the bench only to find the band members occupying their space. When neither side would get out of the ther's way, the situation started to escalate.
The band members ended up surrounding the team when they finished their program. That's when North Carolina A&T head football coach Lee Fobbs Jr. took his team off the field. Fobbs refused to bring his team back out on the field until he was assured that his team would not be harmed by the band or the crowd of students seated behind the visiting bench.
FAMU Athletic Director Nelson Townsend said that MEAC commissioner Dennis Thomas had to be called into the situation and there was discussion about FAMU forfeiting the game.
Fobbs eventually brought his team out on the field after the crowd was warned not to throw anything on the field. The crowd was told that if they did throw anything on the field, FAMU would have to forfeit the game.
The third quarter started an hour after the second quarter ended.
While several FAMU players felt the long delay was an unnecessary distraction, senior receiver Willie Hayward took the situation in stride.
“It's FAMU,” said Hayward said. “It's homecoming. It happens every year. We expected that.”
Hayward has a unique perspective because his father, Willie Hayward Sr., was a former drum major with the 100.
“We know we are going to get a penalty at the beginning of the game because of fame,” Carter said. “We are going to get a penalty at halftime because of the band. That's the 100. That's part of FAMU. You've got to deal with (it).”
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Post by Bornthrilla on Nov 4, 2007 16:35:58 GMT -5
Hmmm. Seems like FAMU was doing their best WSSU impression.
They should go ahead and close that ghetto school down. (I'm talking about FAMU, not that ghetto school in Winston)
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Post by Bornthrilla on Nov 4, 2007 16:55:05 GMT -5
The more I read about this, the more it sounds like yet another situation where band geeks are taking their world much too seriously.
I now blame Christy for this.
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Gator
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Post by Gator on Nov 4, 2007 16:55:54 GMT -5
It was half time, FAMs band was the only to perform. At the beginning, several presentations occured that took about 10-15 minutes. Then the band came on to perform. The performance went on for about another 10 - 15 minutes. Before their performance ended both teams had returned to the field to warm-up. They were in opposite end zones. While the band ended their performance, FAMs football team returned to their sideline and so did A&T. The band wanted to go through a normal exit routine, but it had to occur on the visitors side. A&T football team was already in place ready to start the second half. Flags had already been thrown against FAM for delay of game due to the band still trying to get off the field. In the exit routine, it was required of the band to use the side line of the visiting team. Well, players and coaches were not going to move because they were ready to start the second half. The band director chose to send his drum majors infront of the team, further delaying the game. The PA announcer say's "that's alright Aggies, we'll go around you." At this point, words and gestures were made, things started to fly (water bottles). Coach Fobbs ordered the team back into the locker room for official discussion about protecting the team. It took about 20 minutes more before the team returned to the field for play. Of course, this inflamed more fans. Security had to step and minimize the threat of violence from occuring.
I felt it was a total disrespect of our team and coaches and they obviously responded with outrage! And, you call also tell by the rhetoric from the students and alumni that they didn't care for us taking a stand.
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Post by Bornthrilla on Nov 4, 2007 17:58:43 GMT -5
Sounds like some great leadership was shown by Fobbs and company. This could have gotten really ugly.
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Post by JayBee on Nov 4, 2007 18:27:37 GMT -5
Even before the halftime ordeal, fans were throwing bottles and other debris at our team. The PA annoucer had to issue the fans a warning! Those are some ghetto fans down at FAMU, because they were thinking we should have refused those penalties when we kickoffed to them in the 2nd half. They claim it's a ritual for the opposing coach to refuse those penalties at their homecoming celebration. Fobbs said "to hell with that"!
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Post by DOOMS on Nov 4, 2007 19:10:00 GMT -5
It is customary but that doesn't mean you have to do it. I think Fobbs handled it very well.
That being said I don't think it's good to label a whole group of fans as "ghetto" because maybe 30 people (if that many) out of 25,000 plus don't possess decorum.
The main problem is probably that nobody on staff (except maybe the running back coach) has ever coached at a FAMU homecoming and therefore didn't know that's how they customarily do things. Obviously nobody went to them at any time and said "hey homey, at our homecoming we customarily do this. Can you do x, y and z until we are through?" That would take 20 seconds and we wouldn't have the problem. Instead we have yet another big mess because these negroes don't have any organizational skills or common sense.
A lot of things can be avoided if you take the time to think them out beforehand.
Oh well, next game...
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Post by Gator on Nov 4, 2007 19:30:02 GMT -5
What I saw the hometeam and officials ready to play a football game, and the visiting team waiting and being consumed by a band on the visitors side. That made no sense to me at all, and shouldn't have happened.
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Post by aggiedaddyofbige74 on Nov 4, 2007 22:36:30 GMT -5
famu formed a path with their band that was supposed to lead our players into a certain spot. as the players and coaches made their way back onto the field the pathway started to close up behind them, the coaches realized that something was up & tried to turn the players around- by this time the flag team had formed a circle around the players and lowered their flags over the players heads. all the coaches, trainers, equipment guys & girls, even the watergirls gathered around the players to protect them( these guys did this without thought of any harm coming to themselves they were thinking only of the players). the flag team was waving their flags & the players started pulling on them, the band closed in & everything took on a life of it's own. I was on our side near the bench and caught 6 minutes of this on my phone. famu is rated the #1 most hostile place to play in black college football, with the way things are setup i can understand why. famu thought A&T would bend over and allow them to have their way(ungreased). These guys have lost 26 games in a row,yet they show up each week despite it all. on saturday this team became a TEAM with real" AGGIE PRIDE". I will travel to charleston to watch my son celebrate his first college win along with his teammates. you may think i'm crazy, but ask anyone down at scsu and see what they think
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Post by aahhbigboy on Nov 4, 2007 23:26:58 GMT -5
Thrilla, I know this isn't the "Firing Squad", but is this how he's trying to get his first win? lol But FAMU was dead wrong if that's what they did.
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Post by DECKS on Nov 5, 2007 1:05:41 GMT -5
I gotta give Fobbs & Wheeler Brown props for the way they handled this.
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Post by Bornthrilla on Nov 5, 2007 7:53:27 GMT -5
Yeah, if it was up to me it might have turned into a scene from Braveheart out there.
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Post by AggieMike on Nov 5, 2007 9:23:42 GMT -5
I was at the game and their PA announcer made things way worse...but yeah, their band marches 380 already then they had alums mixed in, I don't think I'd wanna see that scene 400 FAMU people, many with "weapons" vs. 100 A&T dudes. Could have definitely got ugly but it would be a classic homecoming moment
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Post by aggiedaddyofbige74 on Nov 5, 2007 9:59:07 GMT -5
I agree aggiemike because the PA guy and the crowd kept hyping it up when our guys refused to back down. it was a scary & classic moment all at the same time. This team is on a mission, you may not like the record but you gotta love the product
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